December 9, 2019
A tree designed by Debbie Wingham, self-proclaimed “world’s most expensive designer,” may be the latest contender for most expensive Christmas tree in the world. The tree is located in the lobby of the Kempinski Hotel Bahia, near Marbella, Spain.
According to a hotel press release, the tree is adorned with millions of dollars of diamonds, Swarovski crystals, gold and precious jewels. The decadent, 19-foot tree has custom bottles of perfume, 3D-printed chocolate peacocks, and real ostrich eggs. The trim doesn’t stop there, decorations include over 500 pieces handcrafted with luxury materials from top designers such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Bulgari and Chanel.
The most valuable ornament is an emu egg set in 24-carat gold and doused in diamond dust which is worth £8.9/$5.5 million, according to The New York Post.
Another ornament is a fake $1 million bill and $100,000 bills that are embossed in 24-karat gold — a total cost of $1.3 million.
To help with the decorations, Wingham enlisted the help of one of fashion royalty's most notable kin, Alexander McQueen’s nephew, Gary James McQueen.
The Kempinski Hotel Bahia values the tree at £11.9 million — about $15 million US dollars.
Wingham, 37, is proudly claiming she’s outdone 2010's Guiness Book of World record holder -Abu Dhabi’s, Emirates Palace Hotel. That tree was covered with 181 pieces of jewelry and stood 43 feet tall.
Here is a timelapse video posted by Debbie Wingham today (Dec.9) of the tree trimming process.